HUMANITIES Ambassador SPOTLIGHT | Vanessa Patzner

Q: Why did you choose to become an ambassador for the College of Humanities?

A: As a humanities scholar, I chose to become an ambassador for the Humanities. It felt like a great path to continue the work I was already exposed to. I love to work with faculty and other students, so it was a no-brainer!

Q: What are your major(s) and/or minor(s)? Why did you choose them, what do you love most about them, and what do you hope to do with them once you graduate? 

A: I am majoring in English Literature and Business, as of now I do not have any minors but am considering Creative Writing. Ever since I can remember, I have fallen in love with stories, from books to movies to songs. I always remember being so excited for the school days I had my English class; it is still true. I’ve always known I wanted to study English, but I only added Business as a major this year, so my Sophomore year. I wanted to explore a field that essentially controls our world and how we conduct things. I’ve always focused on the Humanities throughout school, so I really wanted to pursue another interest of mine and become more well-rounded. And for creative writing, it depends on whether I have enough room in my schedule!

Q: When you have to lock in and study for a hard test or write a long paper, what is your go-to method for staying focused and pushing through? 

A: My go-to method for studying is picking a time to go to the library and marking it everywhere I possibly can: my calendar, mirror, and phone. I find that when I set an exact schedule, I always end up feeling guilty when I break the plan, so it’s a way to keep myself accountable. I also plan on bringing snacks. For every question I get right or paragraph I write, I reward myself with a yummy treat. I’ve brought a 4-pack Crumbl Cookie box with me once. It helped with my energy levels, but also helped keep me motivated.

Q: In what way(s) do you feel “at home” at the University of Utah? 

A: Utah was my second home after having lived in China for 14 years. I didn’t know anything else, so when I was in high school, having had such a horrendous experience, it tainted my view of home and where I wanted that to be. It wasn’t till I gave Utah a last try by enrolling at the University of Utah. The U gave me what I had hoped for when I moved to America in the first place! It only came 4 years late, but it was so worth it.

Q: What is the earliest or latest class you’ve ever had? What about that class made it worth getting up so early/staying on campus so late?

A: The earliest class I’ve ever had was at 9:10. It was a creative writing class with an excellent professor who was a PhD student at the University too. She was so creative, inspiring, and helpful. It was worth waking up a little earlier for, even though 9:10 is a relatively reasonable hour.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have received in life, and how have you lived up to it?

A: The best piece of advice I’ve received recently was from my professor in the second semester of my Diversity in American Literature course. One day she thanked the students who participated and shared their thoughts in class; she said they were brave. That really stuck with me because I forget that other people have the same fears and feel the same anxieties. It made me thank those students too. But more than anything, it made me want to share my opinion. I wanted to be brave.

Q: On a regular day, what does your commute to school look like? Do you enjoy it? If not, what are some ways you make it more bearable?

A: Every day I leave home around 10:00 to barely secure a U parking spot across campus from where all my classes are. I then have to walk up a hill while I am still peeling my eyes open. I really enjoy my mornings. It’s the time I have the most time to myself, where the world hasn’t awoken yet, or at least to full capacity. Even though I get a little frustrated about the lack of parking available for students, I love to walk through the entire campus. I love to watch students studying and living their own lives. The energy on campus is just addicting to me. I get to listen to my music and contemplate the little things I didn’t have time to think about before. It’s peaceful, and quiet.

Q: In what way have you engaged in the college experience that you are most proud of?

A: Honestly, the college experience I’m most proud of is making friends. I really struggled in high school to make friends, but I also made good friends, people I could rely on. My goal walking into college was to open myself up to new experiences, which led me to my current group of friends.

Q: Would you rather have back-to-back classes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. one day a week or have one two-hour class every day of the week, including weekends?

A: I would rather have one day of back-to-back classes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. It would be a lot more productive, in terms of work, homework, etc., if you had the rest of the week to decide on your schedule.

Q: If you could go back and tell just one thing about your college experience to your past self on your first day at the U, what would you tell yourself?  

A: I would say to just be yourself proudly. Don’t worry about the little things you do, because no one else does. Only make time in your mind for people who deserve it. You’ve got this!